Meaning of wake-up call | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A telephone call to awaken someone at a certain time, especially one requested by the person while staying at a hotel.
   literally
2. An alert, reminder, or call to action caused by a dramatic event.
   figuratively

Equivalents

Examples

“She requested a five a.m. wake-up call from the front desk.”

“The recent deaths should serve as a wake-up call to others at risk.”

“Youth violence represents an insistent, angry wake-up call to every parent, every teacher, every religious leader, every student.”

“"I will never forget the seven people who lost their lives and those who were injured, which was a real wake-up call to those of us involved in public transport and operating tram networks around the world. […]."”

“Instead, we must find an unworthy substitute for the defeat of a foe in that small grin we quickly suppress when we learn that a beheadphoned texter got hit by a car—no, not seriously injured, just bruised up enough to give him a wake-up call.”

CEFR level